Earth’s major Systems Lesson 1 and 2 Flashcards
The Layer of gases that surround Earth
Atmosphere
Earths water whether found on continents or in oceans,including freshwater in glaciers,lakes rivers and underground
Hydrosphere
The part of Earth in which living things exist and interact
Biosphere
The layers of of rock dirt and soil on Earth including the mantle core and crust
Geosphere
Earths solid, rocky surface
Crust
The layer of Earth beneath the crust
Mantle
The slow movement of the continents over many years
Continental drift
Scientific theory that Earths crust is made of moving plates
Tectonic plates
A pattern or crack in the rocks of Earth’s crust where movement can take place
Fault
The central part of Earth
Core
The atmosphere contains ___________ which plants need it to make food
Carbon dioxide
The ____ protects living things in the biosphere
Atmosphere
The_______ influences weather patterns
Geosphere
A __________ scientist who examines rocks to find out Earths history and structure
Geologists
_________ thought Earths continents were connected like a jigsaw puzzle
Alfred Wegner
________theory describes the lithosphere as being made of huge plates of solid rock
Moving plates
When a plate is compressed the crust is folded upward producing
Folded mountains
Rocks break down and become _____
Sediment
Soil forms in layers called
Horizons
______ is a thin layer of topsoil with little humus
Forest soil
_______ is sandy and does not have much humus
Desert soil
_______is rich in humus, which provides nutrients for crops and holds water so minerals aren’t washed deep into the ground
Grasssland and prairie soil
